Night flying as international forces prepare for Exercise Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black is taking shape right now in the Top End and while the latest arrivals are already flying to get familiarisation of the Local Area Sid Mitchell has got straight into the action and it’s only going to get better.

International forces take to the skies this week in preparation for Exercise Pitch Black 2016. Flying activities will commence from 8.30am and cease by 9.00pm, Monday 25 July until Wednesday 27 July.

USAF KC-135R Stratotanker from 186th Air Refuelling Wing, Mississippi

Night flying represents an important opportunity for visiting aircrew to practice air traffic control procedures and familiarise themselves with Northern Territory airspace, for the safe conduct of flying during Exercise Pitch Black.

F/A-18C of VMFA-122 “Werewolves”

Exercise Pitch Black 2016 is the Air Force’s largest training activity this year. It will be conducted in the Northern Territory from Friday 29 July to Friday 19 August.

USAF F-16C of 14th Tactical Fighter Sqn,”Samurai’s”

The Royal Australian Air Force is proud to host up to 115 aircraft and 2500 people who have come together for Exercise Pitch Black 2016.

The Northern Territory welcomes exercise participants from Australia, Canada, Indonesia, France (New Caledonia), Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the United States of America.

RSAF C-130H 733 of 122 Sqn, Paya Lebar, Singapore

Exercise Pitch Black recognises the strong relationship Australia has with each of the nations participating in the exercise and the high value placed on regional stability and fostering closer ties throughout the Asia Pacific region.

ASO will be covering every week of Exercise Pitch Black 2016 so to keep up to date with the latest information and images subscribe to via the link below .

Leave This Blank:Leave This Blank Too:Do Not Change This:

Your email:

About the author

Sometimes it can be a visit to see something you forgot you loved as a kid that can rekindle the love of aviation photography and for me it was going to Temora Aviation Museum back in 2008 to see how the CAC Sabre was going in it's rebuild. While I had been taking photos since 1988 at my 1st Airshow it was here that I first saw the CAC Sabre in flight. I knew that from this moment I had been missing the one thing that I loved being around as a kid and that was fast jets. If the Sabre was flying I would do my best to be there to capture every flight and from that years of hard work with maybe why to much passion has put me in a position to showcase the Royal Australian Air Force and it's fast jets to the public. I hope my work helps shows just how awesome aviation is to the next generation as well as capturing current events so that the men and women who serve the Defence Force now have something to look back on when their work is done. -Mark Jessop